Colorado COCCA Charges: How Racketeering Cases Are Built and Defended
August 18, 2026
Acts of domestic violence aren’t always between only a husband and wife. Individuals can face domestic violence charges even when they are not married. In fact, there are even some circumstances in which the perpetrator or victim isn’t even (and have never been) romantically involved.
So let’s begin by addressing who is protected by Colorado domestic violence laws.
Who’s Protected Under Colorado Domestic Violence Law?The criminal code defines domestic violence (DV) as real or threatened violence against a person [...]
We have encountered a lot of confusion surrounding domestic violence among clients in Colorado. So we decided to tackle some of the most common questions we encounter:
The following information should answer these and others you [...]
Summer is supposed to be the best time of year, but it turns out that this season can bring out the worst in some people. Colorado sees an uptick in violent crimes over the summer months each year — especially domestic violence.
A number of factors may contribute to this increase. Below, we’re going to review why domestic violence tends to increase over the summer months, and what you can do to protect yourself.
Violent Crime Increases with Temperature in[...]Substance abuse and domestic violence are both unfortunate realties of modern society. Both are common, affecting thousands of Coloradans annually.
In fact, many times these two problems occur together, as both domestic violence victims and perpetrators are often substance abusers.
So, what is the link between the two things?
The short answer is that it’s complicated. However, research has shown that substance abusers are more likely to become victims or perpetrators of domestic violence. Moreover, these two problems have many [...]
Domestic violence charges in Colorado hold an interesting position under the laws as written.
Although the acts that constitute domestic violence come with a number of civil and criminal consequences – many of them quite far-reaching – technically, there is no actual “charge” for domestic violence. Rather, it is considered an “enhancement” to other charges.
So, what does it mean when someone is charged with “aggravated” domestic violence?
For most charges, there are a list of factors deemed to be [...]
Colorado COCCA charges are racketeering charges used when prosecutors claim a person participated in an enterprise through a pattern of criminal activity. These cases often grow out of drug, theft, burglary, fraud, identity theft, or financial investigations that are later reframed as organized conduct.
A COCCA count is not automatic just because several people were charged together or because prosecutors believe more than one crime occurred. The state must prove specific structural elements, including an enterprise and a pattern of [...]
Most criminal cases in Denver do not end with a jury verdict. They end with a decision: whether to accept a plea agreement, reject the offer, keep negotiating, or prepare for trial. That decision can shape your record, your freedom, your sentence, your probation terms, and your future long after the court date.
A plea bargain is not just “taking a deal.” It is a legal agreement that may involve reduced charges, dismissed counts, sentencing limits, probation terms, restitution, treatment [...]
A police crash report can make a serious collision look settled before the defense has examined the evidence. It may assign fault, estimate speed, describe the point of impact, and frame the driver’s conduct as reckless or impaired. In a Denver vehicular assault case, those early conclusions can influence charging decisions, plea negotiations, and how prosecutors present the case.
The problem is that a police report is not proof. Officers often prepare crash reports based on witness statements, final vehicle [...]